"Because Angels are rare."

The moment her words fell, my eyes widened. I stared at the Elf girl—still expressionless.

How... how could she know I was an Angel?

"How... how did you know Little Yiyi is an Angel?" Before I could speak, the person beside me—my master—that guy blurted out, barely containing his shock.

"Ara ara~ Master guessed right!" Xia twirled playfully in the air, her voice brimming with energy as she watched Lilith’s reaction. "I didn’t *know*! I just felt Little Yiyi’s magic ripple was a bit stronger than the Milo Beast’s. So I whispered to Master that it might be an Angel or something. He just threw it out there—and wow, he actually hit the mark~"

Whispered to Tida... during the time she sewed my button?

In short, by her account, they’d suspected my identity the moment they sensed my abundant magic. But they played it cool—using the "button fell off, sewing it back" trick to distract me and that guy. Then, with Elf hearing far beyond humans, they exchanged words without us noticing. Finally, when we relaxed, they confirmed who I was. If I guessed right, that was probably it.

Beside me, that guy realized her words had fully exposed my identity. Her delicate brows furrowed slightly.

Still, after the commotion, the street held no one but us and the Elves. Only these two Elves likely recognized me—small mercy in bad luck.

After all, if the books were right, just as the Beast Clan worshipped beast gods and humans revered deities, the Elven Folk revered Angels. So as an Angel, I shouldn’t face much trouble from them.

"Then, please don’t leave. Come with us to Elf Village."

After Xia’s words, the expressionless Elf girl fixed me with an unusual gaze. That stare alone nearly made me break out in a cold sweat.

Her eyes then shifted to the guy beside me—sharpening further.

—Treating the Angel revered by Elves as a mere Contract Beast would enrage any Elf.

"Otherwise, I’ll kill you and take Yiyi."

Instantly, with her calm, cool tone, swirling azure energy bloomed on her snow-white palm. Beautiful, yes—but I could feel the lethal danger hidden beneath.

Unlike humans, whose magic barely tickled Contract Beasts, Elves wielded spells strong enough to defeat them. The elemental magic she’d just unleashed—enough to wipe out five Contract Beasts in seconds—proved she was a powerhouse even among Elves.

True, records said Angels like me had greater magical potential than Elves. But like a genius child facing a professor in linear algebra, I’d only studied magic for a day. I had zero confidence blocking her spell to save my master—that guy. Ugh... headache.

"Do you think you can order *me* around?"

Hearing the Elf girl’s calm words, the guy beside me sucked in a sharp breath. She whispered in my ear, "Yiyi, I’m about to use the trans—"

"Sure!" I pretended not to hear her—ignoring the headache from defying my master. I glanced at her, then turned to the two Elf girls. "Elf Village must be fun!"

"Yiyi, you—"

Seeing her freeze at my words, I tugged her sleeve lightly. My voice was small but clear enough for the Elves to hear.

"I heard Elves have unique magic only their kind knows."

"But even so—"

"If I sneak-learn it, won’t I have a better shot against the Crimson Dragon during the Throne Struggle?"

"Ah... right. Why didn’t I think of that?"

"Ara ara, no need to sneak, Little Yiyi!" Xia swayed, having caught our talk—but I’d meant her to hear. "Teaching an Angel magic is our highest honor as Elves."

"Thanks, Xia." I feigned surprise, though I’d expected this.

"So cute~" The Elf called Xia beamed—a lovesick grin spreading across her face.

"Fine, fine. For Yiyi’s sake, I’ll *graciously* accept your request."

Noticing her tuck away the teleport scroll hidden in her sleeve, I smirked inwardly.

Learning Elf magic for the Throne Struggle? Ridiculous. I just wanted to find a way to break this pet Contract. At worst, I’d learn some Elf spells to escape easier after the Throne Struggle... Ow...

"Good." Seeing the guy beside me agree, the Elf girl gave a slight nod. "First, bathe together in the Elven Spring. Then, meet the Elder."

Hah...

Gritting through the headache, I looked up at Tida’s still-expressionless face...

Bathe together in the Elven Spring... In other words, soak in a hot spring with these girls?